Bengaluru, Feb 20: FIFA World Cup 2018 will miss four-time world champions Italy like never before. The Azzurri failed to qualify for the mega global football event for the first time in their footballing history since 1958.

Italy, the European football powerhouse, succumbed to 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden in the return leg of the European qualifying playoffs. The result of the match left football world stunned. It was never expected. It was a heartbreaking defeat in football history.

However, they are not the only one who failed to surpass the qualifying stage to book the ticket for Russia. The Netherlands, the 2010 runners-up, even failed to advance to the playoffs stage. Alongside them, the United States and Ghana left football fans shell-shocked since they too failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018.

But, surpassing all mishaps Italy’s inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup surprised everyone and raised many eyebrows. In the second leg of the playoffs, when Zlatan Ibrahimović’s Sweden stood firm to beat their rivals, Italian fans were begging and pleading for a goal thus the match would have entered into the 30 minutes injury time. But that didn’t happen as Sweden marched on to score the solitary goal of the match to trounce the Blues to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in their history after 2006.

Italy, a place where football is a cultural machine

Italy, who gave football some of the best things, succumbed to a heart-wrenching defeat to a side which never dreamt of winning the World Cup. Italy is a place where football is game for class and creed of the nation. As a football loving nation, they gifted world the acclaimed defensive formation 'the chain’ which is originally known as catenaccio.

Serie A is one of the fastest football leagues which is famous for producing some of the best footballers in the history. The likes of Baggio and Maldini, Del Piero and Buffon have grown up playing at the Serie A and became famous after winning the yellow metal. But, their bid to join the 32-team in Russia didn’t realize miserably.

When Italy last failed to qualify for World Cup, Pele was a youngster

In the history of football, only Brazil (20) and Germany (16) have qualified for the World Cup more than Italia who played the World Cup 14 times. When the Italian last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1958 the greatest football star Pele was a youngster. He was preparing to play the first World Cup for Brazil, who were yet to win their maiden World Cup title.

Since four-time world champions, Italy failed to qualify for the mega football event, Sweden, on the other hand, booked a ticket for the 29th team.

Italian football need a structural change to get rid of archaic system

However, though the sadness prevailed after Italy failed to surpass Sweden’s challenge we have to keep in mind that they have been struggling since their fourth World Cup title victory in Berlin in 2006.

In 2010 South Africa World Cup, the Azzurri failed to book a berth in pre-quarterfinal while in 2014 World Cup in Brazil they were held by Costa Rica and Uruguay. For a historic low Buffon and Co. finished behind New Zealand, who are not known as a football-loving nation.

When the qualifying round began, Italy were just behind Spain, as expected in Group G, but the situation started worsening for them when the Azzurri lost their away leg against Spain 3-0 in Madrid after a hard-fought draw at home.

The defeat, all but, relegated Italy in the Group G’s points table. In the wake of this development, Italy were pushed to get ready for the qualifying playoffs, the last chance to book a berth in the 2018 World Cup. Unfortunately, Sweden got better of the Azzurri and left them stranded at home to book a berth for the mega global event.

Notwithstanding, this was a historic low in the illustrious Italian football history. Italian football needs a structural change to get rid of the archaic system for the well being of their football future.